Viola plant named ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Viola×wittrockiana  cultivar named ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ is disclosed, characterized by a unique combination of a large, round “pansy” type flower, found on a trailing plant. Flower color is a bright Yellow with a Brown to Greyed-Purple blotch, flowers have a wavy petal margin. Plants have a compact, trailing plant habit. The new variety is a  Viola×wittrockiana , suitable for outdoor landscape and container use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Viola×wittrockiana.

Variety denomination: ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program under thedirection of the inventors, David Kerley, Priscilla Kerley and TimothyKerley, all citizens of the United Kingdom. The objective of thebreeding program was to produce new trailing Viola×wittrockianacultivars for commercial ornamental purposes. The new cultivar resultedfrom the crossing of two unpatented proprietary seedlings. The seedparent was referred to as ‘05-40-1’ and the pollen parent was referredto as ‘05-5-2’. The cross resulting in ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ was performedduring May of 2005. The selection of the new variety ‘Kerviocheeky’ wasmade in April 2006, by the inventors at a research greenhouse located inCambridge, UK.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed at the same research greenhouse inCambridge, UK in July of 2006, and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ as a new and distinct Violacultivar:

-   -   1. Unique round “pansy” flower, on a trailing Viola plant,        rather than the elongated flower form more commonly found on        spreading or trailing types which are usually Viola×williamsii.    -   2. Large uniquely rounded flower shape.    -   3. Spreading, trailing plant habit.    -   4. Exceptionally compact habit when grown in a small container.    -   5. Bright yellow, with dark blotch flower color.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ are similar to plants of theseed parent variety, in most horticultural characteristics. However,plants of the new cultivar produce smaller flowers, of a differentcolor. Additionally, the new variety produces a plant with a moretrailing habit than the seed parent, and flowers that are lessundulating.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent variety, in most horticultural characteristics. However,plants of the new cultivar produce larger flowers, with a blotch,whereas the parent variety has no blotch. Additionally, the new varietyproduces flowers that are more undulating than flowers of the pollenparent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety known as Viola ‘Sunvioki’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,138,in some horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the newcultivar ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ produce larger flowers, with a rounded flowershape and a blotch not found in ‘Sunvioki’. Additionally, ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’produces thicker plant and flower stems, and larger leaves than‘Sunvioki’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typicalplants of ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ grown in a poly house in Cambridge, UK. Plantsare approximately 35 weeks old shown in a 20 cm basket, 3 rootedcuttings were planted per pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of a typical flower of ‘KERVOICHEEKY’.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ plants grown in an unheatedpoly house in Cambridge, UK. The growing temperature ranged fromapproximately −5 to 12° C. at night to −2 to 18° C. during the day. 3rooted cuttings were planted in a 20 cm basket. No chemical orphotoperiodic treatments were given. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Viola×wittrockiana ‘KERVIOCHEEKY.’-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 37 weeks, in a 20 cm    basket.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: About 15 to 20 days at approximately 20° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Spreading, trailing.-   Height: Approximately 20 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 60 cm.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.5 cm.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 19 cm.-   Texture of lateral branches: Glabrous.-   Internode length: Approximately 4 cm.-   Strength of stem: Strong.-   Color of lateral branches: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.-   Quantity of lateral and sub lateral branches: Approximately 65.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Average length.—Approximately 5.4 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2.2 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Attachment.—Petioled.        -   Margin.—Crenulate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Green            137A. Developing foliage under side: Near R.H.S. Green 137C.            Mature foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 147A.            Mature foliage under side: Near R.H.S. Green 137B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near            R.H.S. Green 139D. Venation color under side: Near R.H.S.            Green 139D.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A, upper petiole, lower            petiole near 144B.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Naturally blooming March to November under United    Kingdom outdoor conditions.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Single, axillary flowers, comprised of 5 petals total;            2 upper, 2 lateral and 1 lower in a single whorl. Petals            undulating.-   Flower longevity on plant: About 5 days.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning.-   Fragance: Slightly fragrant.-   Flowers per plant: Approximately 168.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Bud color.—Near RHS Green-Yellow 1D heavily flushed            Purple-Violet 81B or Purple 79D, varying flush coloration.        -   Bud length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Bud diameter.—Approximately 1.1 cm.-   Individual flower:    -   -   Flower size.—Length: Approximately 63 cm. Width:            Approximately 5.7 cm.        -   Petal texture.—All petals, glabrous, velvety with matte            appearance.-   Petals:    -   -   Upper petals.—Shape: Orbicular. Length: Approximately            3.2 cm. Width: Approximately 4.2 cm. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Rounded. Color: When opening, upper surface: Near RHS Yellow            7A overlaid with Grey-Brown 199C towards tip; vein Green            138B. When opening, lower surface: Near RHS 7A to 7B, veins            Violet 83A, prominent towards base; bleeding between veins            greyed Purple 77B at base; Partly overlaid with Greyed-Green            197C towards tip. Fully opened, upper surface: Deeper than            Yellow 9A; slight venation coloration near Greyed-Green            195B, more intense at base. Fully opened, lower surface:            Near RHS Yellow 9B: prominent veins greyed 77A through C;            bleeding between veins at petal base greyed Purple 78C.        -   Lateral petals.—Shape: Reniform. Length: Approximately            3.2 cm. Width: Approximately 3.6 cm. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Rounded. Color: When opening, upper surface: Near RHS Yellow            7A overlaid with varying amounts of Greyed-Brown 199C;            blotch at base Brown 200A. When opening, lower surface: Near            RHS Yellow 7B overlaid with Greyed-Green 197D in places;            vein towards base Violet 86A-C; reverse of blotch            Greyed-Purple 183A. Fully opened, upper surface: A color            Between 9A and 13A; blotch at base closest to Greyed-Purple            187A. Fully opened, lower surface: Near RHS Yellow 9B; veins            at base Violet 88A-B; overlaid with Greyed-Orange 176C            towards base.        -   Lower petal.—Shape: Very broad obocordate to orbicular.            Length: Approximately 3.3 cm. Width: Approximately 4.1 cm.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Deeper than Yellow 9A; blotch Brown 200A; eye            Yellow 14B. When opening, lower surface: Near RHS Yellow 9B            overlaid with Yellow-Green 145C towards base at reverse of            blotch. Fully opened, upper surface: Near RHS Yellow 14A            nearest; blotch Greyed-Purple 187A; eye Yellow 17B. Fully            opened, lower surface: Near RHS Yellow 12A overlaid with            Yellow-Green 144D at base; vein Greyed-Green 191C towards            base.-   Additional flower data:    -   -   Spur on flower petal.—Length: Approximately 0.4 cm. Width:            Approximately 0.1 cm. Depth: Approximately 0.3 cm. Color:            Near RHS Blue-Green 122B, but, more grey.        -   Eye dimensions.—Length: Approximately 0.5 cm. Width:            Approximately 0.4 cm.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Arrangement.—Whorled.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.6 to 2.2 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137B.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 12.5 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright with outward curve.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   -   -   Stamen quantity.—Approximately 5.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow-White 158D.        -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Yellow 10C.        -   Pollen amount.—Scant to moderate.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Stigma shape.—Bulbous with concave depression on uppermost            portion.        -   Ovary color.—Near RHS Green 138B.        -   Stigma color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 151B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates high temperature to at least 35° C.    Tolerates low temperatures to −10° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Fruit and seed production not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Viola plant named ‘KERVIOCHEEKY’ asherein illustrated and described.